Shrewsbury sports in the red, seeking help

With the Shrewsbury High School Athletic Department operating at a nearly $90,000 deficit this year, school officials are seeking help from local businesses in the form of sponsorships.

Jeff Malachowski/Staff Writer

With the Shrewsbury High School Athletic Department operating at a nearly $90,000 deficit this year, school officials are seeking help from local businesses in the form of sponsorships.

Due to increases in transportation costs and the loss of gate receipts due to the rescheduling of games because of the threat of mosquito born illnesses this fall, the Athletic Department is facing a $90,000 budget gap, said Athletic Director Jay Costa.

“This is a real problem,” said Superintendent Joseph Sawyer.

Rather than pass the buck to already cash-strapped families or eliminating programming, the district is hoping to partner with area businesses to close the gap. Sawyer called the partnership a “win-win situation” for the athletic program and businesses.

As part of a sponsorship, local businesses would receive advertisements in the Shrewsbury School Journal, inclusion in the new Shrewsbury Athletics News e-mail blasts, inclusion in programs and roster sheets and advertisements on the Athletic Department’s Web site.

For the highest of donors, Sawyer said signage at indoor and outdoor athletic fields, public address announcements throughout the game and cable television exposure during high school games would be available.

Sawyer encouraged businesses interested in partnering with the district to contact either him or Costa.